Catenaa, Monday, July 14, 2025-World leaders sharply reacted Saturday to President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats, after he proposed a 30% blanket duty on imports from the European Union (EU) and Mexico, prompting fears of a renewed global trade rift.
Trump posted letters on Truth Social warning that retaliation from targeted countries would trigger an additional surcharge on top of the 30%. He pledged exemptions for goods manufactured in the US by EU-based firms, but said tariffs on 23 major trading partners, ranging from 20% to 50%, were imminent.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said such duties would disrupt transatlantic supply chains, harming consumers and businesses on both continents.
She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to negotiation, but warned of proportionate countermeasures if talks collapse by the August 1 deadline.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the move as “concerning and not the way forward,” while French President Emmanuel Macron urged the EU to prepare for retaliatory measures using the bloc’s anti-coercion tools. Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson echoed calls for dialogue but warned that consumers would ultimately bear the cost of a trade war.
Spain’s Pedro Sánchez and Ireland’s Micheál Martin emphasized the EU’s unity and the preference for diplomacy. Italy’s government urged restraint, calling for Western unity amid heightened global uncertainty.
Only Oregon has brought legal action against Coinbase as other U.S. states await clarity on upcoming federal crypto laws. Meanwhile, Trump’s tariffs have caused Dow futures to slip nearly 200 points amid investor concerns.
The White House has not commented on growing international backlash. U.S. lawmakers are still expected to vote this month on the GENIUS stablecoin bill and Clarity market structure law.
